Established in 2012, the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Program has been awarded to more than 2,600 scholars from Canada and around the world. The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) is managed through a unique partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, and Canadian postsecondary institutions. QES is made possible with the financial contributions from the Rideau Hall Foundation. It is Canada’s premier academic program for global leadership, collaboration and multidisciplinary learning.
2025 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QES) Program
2026-27 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QES) Program - Request for Proposal
Vancouver Community College (VCC) has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships Program for the project entitled, Addressing Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific – Leveraging University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) for Action.
VCC currently hosts the UMAP International Secretariat, a student mobility consortium with 500+ member institutions across Asia and the Pacific, and this project is framed as a legacy initiative to continue the development of strong partnerships developed between UMAP Canada member institutions and the UMAP network during our tenure in this role.
Eligible Programs or study abroad terms must be registered in the UMAP Student Connection Online (USCO) system. The available programs for Fall 2025 are hosted by the following UMAP member institutions. Eligible students must apply and be nominated in the USCO system before April 30, 2025.
Canadian and Permanent Residents students enrolled at eligible UMAP Canada member institutions will apply to participate in a one-semester exchange in program focused on adaptation and resilience to a changing climate. In addition to taking courses, students will complete a community engagement project and/or research internship with support from the host institution.
Selected UMAP member institutions in eligible countries will serve as the host institutions for this project. Programs will be offered on the UMAP USCO platform. Students will apply for and be nominated by their home institution in the USCO platform. Student applications will be vetted by the UMAP host institution based on the host institution's admissions requirements. In addition to the one-semester exchange experience, selected students will participate in activities like virtual check-ins, mentorship, on-the-ground facilitators, and a variety of professional training and networking.
To be eligible for the 2025 QES program scholarship:
Successful applicants will receive an award ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 CAD.
The scholarship value will be based on the type and length of the program developed by the host institution, as well as the geographical location of their institution.
The award amount is determined based on estimates for eligible expenses in the placement context. Eligible expenses include:
Students must apply to the UMAP USCO system. If accepted, eligible students will be contacted directly for onboarding instructions. Contact VCC’s International Education office for more information.
The UMAP-VCC Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Program (QES) provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in academic learning and hands-on experience that directly contributes to addressing climate change, resilience, and adaptability. This prestigious scholarship offers selected candidates the chance to complete a one-semester academic exchange at an eligible institution, with tuition waived, concurrently with a research placement, internship, or community engagement project connected to these critical global issues.
The program is open for application to UMAP member institutions in countries and territories that are eligible for the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Program.
The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, September 15, 2025, before 5:00 p.m. (PDT, Vancouver). Please send complete proposals to umap@vcc.ca.
Proposals must be submitted by the host institution using the 2026-27 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Proposal Application Form. If desired, they can be co-developed with an eligible UMAP Canada member institution. All relevant application materials can be downloaded via the Proposal Application Form.
Attend a QES Information Session to learn more!
UMAP QES 2026-27 Host Institution Information Session - Asia
UMAP QES 2026-27 Host Institution Information Session - Americas
Recording:
Watch the recording of the Information Session for eligible UMAP Canada member institutions:
